7 plus 2

I've been thinking of getting a motor cycle trailer for my seven. Has anyone got one? I saw a video on YouTube how to build one from a cheap utility trailer and a roof carrier, by a guy with a bike. Looks doable and fairly cheap. Comments and suggestions?

:hurray:Ha ha ha (or lol). My wife's clothes went when she did. Actually that is a closet at my shop and used now as a painted parts closet.

The hub after sand blasting and priming. (pic1) A pool noodle, cut to size, makes the perfect spline protector against sand blasting and painting. An engine stand is great for painting the rim (pic 2) (in stages so the inner doesn’t stick). The final painting of the inside I will do on the Workmate. The spokes and nipples where another matter. I wanted to paint them without painting the threads, and, at the same time get the bottom of the nipples. For this I took a piece of bar stock, drilled and tapped 10 holes, then mounted the spokes to it and put the nipples on backwards with the end that’s inside the rim facing the bar stock (pic 3). (I did 10 at a time as these are 60 spoke rims.) Worked a treat. After I rebuild the wheel I’ll give the flat inner part of the nipple a coat (and a pair of pants) of paint.

So, the original idea was to paint Sybil BRG with a yellow stripe and wheels (but have changed my mind due to the plethora of 7s in this colour combo). At that time, I decided to get one of the spoke wire wheels powder coated in yellow, but the colour wasn’t right (looked good on the swatch) and the coating chipped off every time I put the rim down on the concrete floor (another “professional” job to re-do). Now, I’ve decided on the original colour for the rims. So how do you strip a powder coated wire wheel? Being in Canada, eh, the strongest paint stripper we can now buy isn’t much stronger than lacquer thinners. A friend who rebuilds engines (professionally) said he uses Permatex Gasket Remover. Expensive (it only comes in a spray) but it works real good. But, on a wire wheel, it’s hard to get all the nooks and crannies (pic 1). Since this rim is to be the spare, I decided to take it apart and re-assemble it after re-finishing (pic 2). The Permatex had softened the coating enough that wire brush (both in a drill and on the bench grinder) took off almost all the rest. I had to sand blast the pockets for the nipples (pic 3) which took ages due to the softness of the coating (the sand just bounced off) but eventually I won. The rim, hub and spokes are pitted bad, and some of the nipples (15 of 60) will have to be replaced. I was going to replace all the spokes with stainless, but that would cost $20.00ea. X 60 spokes or $1200.00!!!!!!!! I can buy a new rim a lot cheaper than that. Anyways, next time I’ll post the pictures of the progress so far. Please comment and let me know if you want me to keep posting (a little feedback is always nice).

I like the bit "It is made from a Caterham or Westfield chassis but with a nice looking body." Someone is very high on themselves. I like it but it needs fenders, not for looks,but cause the roads are covered in crap.

Ah... that could explain it. Colin was always looking for a deal, and with the lamiplate on steel that would save the labour of covering it. The colour (red) under the colour on top (black) was the red that S2 sevens had for the side panels and the seats. (check out episode #6 "Many Happy Returns" of The Prisoner, dash, side panels and seats are all red) I know from a reliable source that the chassis colour was whatever was on sale. The light blue was (supposedly) got by the barrel full because a customer ordered it and then canceled. I think it was floor paint.

cs3tcr Thanx for this. Looks like the old one I have IS the original. The ali one should work just as well as long as I don't hit and dent it, when something goes wrong. Everything on the dash is grounded to the chassis to 2 points on either side of the dash. Wonder why when every other body panel is ali they would use galvanized. What did your friend use to replace it on his S3?

So my latest venture while doing the re-wiring was to re-make the dash. The "original", I don't think was original. It was made of galvanized steel (can any S2 owners verify this?) As you can see (pic #1) nothing really lined up: the gauges; the switches or the idiot lights. Because I'm not running a generator I didn't need the plate on the backside between the speedo and the switches for the regulator. That left room for the (added) gas gauge and amp meter to be either side the speedo. I made up a template (pic#2) and trial fit it on the frame. I laid it up on a new piece of ali, cut the holes and fitted everything (pic #3). I then trimmed it to about the size (pic #4) and will bend and trim it to the new cowl. I have a piece of black leather to cover it. The choke is now on the drivers (right) side as I'm running a crossflow head and it is straight out to the carbs. The last picture is from the manual. Notice on the "left hand drive (America model) there is no choke indicated. Guess they forgot it.

The ones at SVC look perfect. Especially like the black with stainless rim. Price was a bit of a shock till I realized it was for a pair. Am calling tomorrow to order. Thanx guys.

I guess I need the 7" ones (high and low beams required by law). Been to Holdens site and guess they will be the same size as the ones I have. Am now trial fitting the front fenders and lights and I think I'll have to move the fender - stanchion hole so they don't rub the fenders or the nose (when removing). Have to get out the glass fibre and resin and fix the old holes.

Paul Don't forget a place in the motorhome for the Caterham. Well, I certainly didn't expect this many responses. I'm impressed!!!! The reason I asked is ‘cause my 2nd wife (of 3) was the only one from my side that ever drove it. My best buddy Steve’s (see http://usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8820 sitting in it in the garage) wife snuck out one morning and drove it when 8 months pregnant with their first. When she got back she couldn’t get out ‘cause the unborn had slipped under the steering wheel. She finally woke Steve up by screaming, and he had to remove the wheel. The first born isn’t interested in cars much…. Maybe that’s why.

lgb240 Let me know where you'll be (what car you're bringing) when you decide and I'll look for you and introduce myself. My favorite forum for bimmers is this one: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forum.php? I have an E-32 and have found it invaluable in keeping mine on the road (eg my heater motor wasn’t working all the time and I found out how to fix it. Cost: nothing, replacement parts without this info would have been over $3,500.00) I’ve never had occasion to use the “3” series section but I’m sure you’ll get lots of good tips. I just checked the E-30 and E46 forums and there are 2 pages of new threads since Friday on each of them.

They're driving lights though. Do they have high and low beams?

Does anyone know of any a female that owns/owned a 7? I have, somewhere, a 1960s ad with a woman driving a S1, implying that it was for women too. In 1977 just weeks before going to England to buy my S2 I did see a woman driving one on Kingston Road in Toronto. I tried to catch her up, but, my girlfriend was with me, and I was only driving a 1976 Firebird…. Anyway, just was curious.

Does anyone know where I can get a set of headlights like the ones on Bessie? The last time I redid Sybil, way back in 1977, I bought lights from a hot rod supplier and they are too big for the car. If you want to see the continuing saga of SB1415 check out the Canada forum: http://usa7s.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=36 It starts about 13 threads down with “new member”

New(ish) member, 1 month now. Just looked through this thread and love the pictures. Here are some of my favs. The first two are ads that spurred me on; ; the third, wish I was at Earl's Court that year; the fourth, the one I bought in 1977, with my girl friend and her cousin, just outside Limerick, Ireland and the fifth... the reason I wanted one in the first place

My 1962 S2 weighed 985 lbs when shipped from England in 1977. About the same as the other S2s

Wasn't being insulting, I'm just saying,,,,,,, B C-ing U

I always thought that the whole idea about driving a 7 was wind in the hair, rain in the face and bugs in the teeth. Similar to Croc: years ago my x got a solid piece of 2" X 6' bar stock thrown up by a truck which came through the drivers side windshield, bent the top of the steering wheel at 90 degrees and stopped on her abdomen. She was doing 120kph at the time. And this was in a brand new Honda Accord. She managed to get to the side of the highway, but spent a couple of days in the hospital, and had to have her gallbladder taken out. When your time is up...it's up. Nothing is going to stop it. Ask Senna. B C-ing U

If it's a S1 Lotus (late 50s - early 60s) the peddle box is about the same as my 1962 S2. I'm a size 12 and as S1Steve said the right shoe (I'd recommend racing shoes) and good ankles and you're good to go. Just be ready to get out every couple hundred miles to work out the kinks. B C-ing U

Are you referring to the parking garage gate in "The Prisoner"? B C-ing U

Hi y'all I’m a retired “jack of all trades” and I recently joined this forum, which I think is great. Since I live in Canada, I’ve been looking only in the “Canada” forum, till tonight when I thought I’d go “walk aboot.” I have had Sybil (SB1415) my 1962 Lotus 7 since 1977. I bought it in Glasgow, Scotland, drove in around Scotland, England and Ireland then shipped it back to Toronto. It's been off the road being "restored" since 1986. In between building homes and working and having so called pros doing work on it (most of which I've had to re-do) it's taken till now that I'm retired to get it to the point where, if I really try, I may have it on the road by next spring. That's the plan anyway. Hope I can get some tech advice along the way. If you want to see all my posts and pictures go to: http://usa7s.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=36 And I’m about (aboot, Canadian eh?) 13 down from the top under thread "New member" and have 8 of the posts above it. B C-ing U

Truly, and there isn't much action (in the Canadian section) compared to, say, the Bimmer forum I belong to. Probably 2 or 3 postings a day from Canadians (5 to 10 from all over). The "British Car Forum" is the same in the Lotus section. Hardly any posting. They must all be working on their cars like me.

Nice. I'll be sure to find it and introduce myself.

Will possibly see you there. What colour is the Westfield?